Cleaning brush

ABSTRACT

A cleaning brush with a movable head having short bristles leaning or inclining in one direction, said head being movable so that the brush can be used with either hand and with the bristles inclining against the direction of brushing.

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: l'lw States atent Inventor Garry Kieves 52 Primrose Crescent, Winnipeg l7, Manitoba, Canada Appl. No. 875,702 Filed Nov. 12, 1969 Patented Jan. 4, 1972 CLEANING BRUSH 1 Claim, 12 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 15/172 Int. Cl A46b 15/00 Field of Search 15/172,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,396,630 11/1921 Higbee 15/176 2,877,478 3/1959 Kohlwey et a1.. 15/176 X 3,421,171 1/1969 Tsuruzawa 15/172 FOREIGN PATENTS 175,973 6/1935 Switzerland 15/176 Primary ExaminerPeter Feldman Attorney-Kent & Ade

ABSTRACT: A cleaning brush with a movable head having short bristles leaning or inclining in one direction, said head being movable so that the brush can be used with either hand and with the bristles inclining against the direction of brush- PATENTEU JAN 4 I972 SHEET 1 BF 2 FIG.3-

' FIG. 7

INVENTUR. BY @0227 [M /H wrv CLEANING BRUSH This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cleaning brushes, and more particularly to cleaning brushes having bristles or pile leaning in one direction for brushing.

This application includes improvements to the basic device shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,42l,l71, issued Jan. 14, I969.

This invention eliminates the inefficient cleaning action of the conventional brush and provides a novel improved cleaning brush which is particularly easy to use in either hand or in either direction.

According to one embodiment of the invention, I provide a cleaning brush which has relatively short bristles inclined at an angle from the surface and comprising holding or gripping means for securing the brush surface to a handle'and enabling same to be used in either hand and in either direction.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the cleaning brush head is characterized by the fact that the bristles are I to 7 millimeters long and can be made of any fiber, natural, synthetic or glass. Furthermore the bristles are set at an angle with respect to the brush surface, said angle being from between 3 and 80", preferably in the range of between 60 and 80. The present invention shows various method of attaching the head containing the bristles, to the handle so that the head can be reversed in some instances and in others so that the head can be used in either hand and in either direction of brushing.

With the foregoing in view, and such other or further purposes, advantages or novel features as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of, and is hereby claimed to reside in, the inventive concept which is comprised, embodied, embraced, or included in the method, process, construction, composition, arrangement or combination ofparts, or new use of any of the foregoing, of which concept, one or more specific embodiments of same are herein exemplified as illustrative only of such concept, reference being had to the accompanying Figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of an alternative embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 4 is a section substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing one of the pins retained in the handle end.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a still further embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 7 is an end view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a still further embodiment of the invention. I

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary exploded view showing one of the pins engaging with the handle.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of a still further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is an end view of the head per se of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a further embodiment.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference should first be made to FIG. 1 in which 12 indicates a formed, substantially elongated handle made of plastic or the like and having ends 13 and 14.

The one end 14 is provided with a pair of upstanding spaced and substantially parallel jaws 15 extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the handle 12. Secured within these jaws is a substantially rectangular brush element 16 having bristles or pile 17 on both surfaces 18, it being understood that surfaces 18 are substantially spaced and parallel with one another. The bristles or pile 17 are either natural or synthetic and are inclined at an angle from the surfaces 18 to a degree between 3 and 80. The preferred range of inclination is between 60 and 80.

The length of the bristles or pile is preferably between I to 7 millimeters.

It will be observed that the inclination of the bristles or pile on both surfaces 18 is in the same direction, namely upwardly with respect to FIG. 2.

The head 16 is secured adhesively within the jaws and the lower edge 19 engages the horizontal portion 20 of the one end 14 of the handle between the jaws 15. In use, the brush can be used in either hand so that the brushing action can be against the pile inclination thus ensuring efficient pickup of dust and particles from the surface being brushed.

It is the necessity of being able to use the brush with either hand and in either direction with the inclination of the pile against the brushing movement which requires construction of handles and heads enabling this to be undertaken.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show an alternative embodiment in which the one end 14 of the handle 12 is provided with an upstanding portion 20 having a groove or recess 21 formed within the upper horizontal surface 22. Partial jaws 15 are formed on the ends of the portion 20' and a head 16A is provided having pile or bristles 17 on one surface 18 only. It is therefore apparent that this head has to be reversed if it is to be used in the opposite direction or with the opposite hand and FIG. 5 shows details of the method used to permit this reversing action.

Bores 23 are formed downwardly within the jaws 15 and cylindrical pins 24 slidably engage within these bores. The upper ends 25 of the cylindrical pins extend at right angles from the pins 24 and terminate in pegs 26 which in turn engage within the ends 27 of the head 16A. It should be understood that the head can rotate upon these pegs 26 when the pins are moved upwardly so that the lower edge of the head is out of engagement from the recess 21.

Means are provided to prevent complete disengagement of the pins 24 from the jaws 15 and in this embodiment, I have formed elongated grooves 28 on one side of the pins 24 engageable by a spring loaded pin 29 extending through the sidewall ofthe jaw 15.

In operation, the head is prevented from rotating by the engagement of the lower side thereof within the curved recess 21. When it is desired to turn the head over, it is moved upwardly by extending the pins 24 from the jaws, the head is rotated upon the pegs 26 whereupon the pins 24 are pushed downwardly so that the opposite edge of the head engages within the groove 21. The pins 24 are preferably made frictionally engageable with the bores 23 and this together with the pressure of the spring loaded pins 29, is sufficient to retain the head in the engaged position until it is desired to rotate same.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a further method of reversing the head. In this embodiment, the head 16B is substantially rectangular and is provided with pile or bristles l7 inclined at an angle from the surface 18 as clearly shown in FIG. 7.

The side edges 30 of the head incline inwardly as clearly shown and slidably engage a substantially rectangular one end 31 of the handle 12. The side edges 32 of this one end are also inclined so that the head will slidably engage the one end and can be retained thereby due to the frictional engagement. When it is desired to use the brush in the other hand or in the opposite direction, the head is slid off the one end, reversed, and slid back on again so that the bristles 17 incline in the opposite direction with respect to FIG. 7.

In FIG. 8, the handle 12 is provided with one end 14 having bores 33 formed within the surface 35 thereof. The head 16C is provided with bristles or pile l7 inclining in one direction from the surface 18. Upon the opposite side or surface 36, I provide upstanding pins or knobs 37 adapted to engage within the bores or drillings 33 of the one end 14. Small angulated springs 38 are secured within the sides of the bores 33 and are shaped to spring loadedly retain the pins or knobs 37 when the head is pushed into engagement with the one end. In this em bodiment, the head can be disengaged by pulling it from the one end 14, reversed, and snapped back into position being held firmly by the spring 38 engaging the knobs or pins 37.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 and II also include a handle 12 having a one end 14 and a head 16D. In this embodiment, the head is substantially rectangular and includes pile or bristles 17 extending at an angle from surfaces 18 upon both sides of the head. It will be observed that the bristles incline in the same direction as clearly shown in FIG. 11.

This head is journaled to the one end 14 in a manner similar to that described for the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. with the exception that the embodiment in FIGS. 3, 4 and shows the head lying in a plane parallel to the one end or at right angles to the transverse axis 38' thereof.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. and 11. the head lies at right angles to that shown in FIGv 3. In other words the head is flat against the one end 14. The pins 24 engage within the jaws of the one end 14 similarly to that shown previously and the rotation of the head is occasioned by extending the pins. rotating the head, and replacing the pins. It will be observed that the width of the head requires that the pins be longer than those shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 so that sufficient clearance can be gained to rotate the head through 180. Due to the fact that the pile inclines in the same direction on both sides, rotation of the head in the direction shown by arrows 39, causes the exposed pile to incline in the opposite direction as the head is rotated.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment in which the handle 12 extends upwardly from the head or brush element 16 and having the pile or bristles 17 on the undersurface extending in the direction of brushing indicated by arrow 40. This brush can be used in either hand so long as the direction of brushing is as indicated.

Various modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept which is herein disclosed and/or claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a reversible cleaning brush, the combination ofa handle having two opposite sides and an elongated edge formed with a recessed seat, a brush head having two opposite sides and an elongated edge retainingly engageable with said seat. bristles provided on only one of said sides of said head, and means reversibly mounting said head on said handle so that the bristle-equipped side of the head may be disposed selectively at the respective opposite sides of the handle. said mounting means comprising a pair of pins slidable inwardly and outwardly in bores formed in said edge of the handle at the ends of said seat, said pins being slidable in a plane parallel to said sides of the handle and having opposed journal portions on which said head is rotatably mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to said edge of the handle so that when said pins are slid outwardly in said bores, said edge of the head is disengaged from said seat to permit rotation of the head about said journal portions and further that when said pins are slid inwardly, rotation of the head is prevented by engagement of said edge of the head with said seat, and detent means provided in said handle and engaging said pins to limit the extent of outward sliding thereof in said bores. 

1. In a reversible cleaning brush, the combination of a handle having two opposite sides and an elongated edge formed with a recessed seat, a brush head having two opposite sides and an elongated edge retainingly engageable with said seat, bristles provided on only one of said sides of said head, and means reversibly mounting said head on said handle so that the bristleequipped side of the head may be disposed selectively at the respective opposite sides of the handle, said mounting means comprising a pair of pins slidable inwardly and outwardly in bores formed in said edge of the handle at the ends of said seat, said pins being slidable in a plane parallel to said sides of the handle and having opposed journal portions on which said head is rotatably mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to said edge of the handle so that when said pins are slid outwardly in said bores, said edge of the head is disengaged from said seat to permit rotation of the head about said journal portions and further that when said pins are slid inwardly, rotation of the head is prevented by engagement of said edge of the head with said seat, and Detent means provided in said handle and engaging said pins to limit the extent of outward sliding thereof in said bores. 